Flood hazard assessment and management: Interface with the public (original) (raw)

What do we think about floods? Social perception on flood risk in Águeda municipality, Portugal

Floodplains were traditionally considered as special locations to urban development (Montz, 2000), leading to the increase of human occupation in those areas as well as to a larger human exposure and vulnerability to flood risk. Risk concept combines the likelihood occurrence of a disaster and the vulnerability of the natural and socioeconomic systems. However this concept is also “socially constructed” (Dake, 1992:26) and its definition depends also on the social perception, which is in addition formed by several factors. As Flynn and Slovic (2000: 109) state, “human beings invented the concept of risk to help them understand and cope with danger and the uncertainties of life”. The focus of this study is the assessment of public perception about flood hazard in Águeda municipality, in the Central Region of Portugal. The frequent occurrence of flooding, as well as the population’s vulnerability and exposure to this risk, were decisive in the choice of this object of study. The communities’ perception about floods causes and impacts, as well as about the strategies they use to prevent, mitigate and cope with floods was addressed using a survey applied to the local inhabitants. The empirical evidence showed that there is a clear tendency towards acceptance and coping with flood risk. This demonstrates that people that are used to live with flood risk accept the impossibility of elimination of the total risk, and recognizing sometimes the advantages of living in floodplains (Parker, 2000).

Risk perception – issues for flood management in Europe

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science, 2012

Public perception of flood risk and flood risk information is often overlooked when developing flood risk management plans. As scientists and the public at large perceive risk in very different ways, flood risk management strategies are known to have failed in the past due to this disconnect between authorities and the public. This paper uses a novel approach in exploring the role of public perception in developing flood risk communication strategies in Europe. Results are presented of extensive quantitative research of 1375 questionnaire responses from thirteen communities at risk across six European countries. The research forms part of two research projects funded under the 2nd ERA-Net CRUE Funding Initiative: URFlood and FREEMAN. Risk perception is conceptualised as a pillar of social resilience, representing an innovative approach to the issue. From this process recommendations are identified for improving flood risk management plans through public participation. PTKA (Project Management Agency Research Centre Karlsruhe); the Irish Office of Public Works; Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA); the Scottish Government and the Environment Agency. Special thanks to the representatives of the responsible organisations and administrations in each case study area.

The role of public participation for improving flood risk management

2016

This study has been inspired by a conversation, between OART officer and a local farmer, in Barcombe Mills, while undertaken the River Habitat Survey (RHS) in Bevern Stream; the farmer complaint about the lack of communication of EA in opening a gate that caused flooding into his field. Therefore, as flood risk is becoming a social concern and an interdisciplinary impact, the aim was to define the role of the public to be strategically involved in the discussion panel. This research suggested that the public engagement could help in the planning process and the local knowledge from stakeholders and the community could make citizens empowered and engaged. It was found that the lack of awareness in flood warning and lack of maintenance of river-banks were important concerns that EA must take into account, according to the farmer and the community. However, even if, on one side, EA and National conservation groups (Wildlife Trust) considered planning and monitoring as key priorities to...

Social perceptions of floods and flood management in a Mediterranean area (Costa Brava, Spain

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2010

Taking as an example three study cases in the Costa Brava area, this paper examines the social perception of floods through surveys, interviews and Focus Group sessions. Perception is then related to vulnerability, flood management, and citizen's preferences regarding alternatives to curb flood losses in the future. The study concludes that flood awareness and the willingness to take actions regarding this hazard are clearly related to the degree of social involvement with the affairs of the local community. Furthermore, participatory settings such as Focus Group sessions appear to enable a better environment for assessing and implementing flood management options that attempt to modify human activities rather than modify natural processes as has been frequently the case in the past.

Public perception of flood risks, flood forecasting and mitigation

Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, 2005

A multidisciplinary and integrated approach to the flood mitigation decision making process should provide the best response of society in a flood hazard situation including preparation works and post hazard mitigation. In Slovenia, there is a great lack of data on social aspects and public response to flood mitigation measures and information management. In this paper, two studies of flood perception in the Slovenian town Celje are represented. During its history, Celje was often exposed to floods, the most recent serious floods being in 1990 and in 1998, with a hundred and fifty return period and more than ten year return period, respectively. Two surveys were conducted in 1997 and 2003, with 157 participants from different areas of the town in the first, and 208 in the second study, aiming at finding the general attitude toward the floods. The surveys revealed that floods present a serious threat in the eyes of the inhabitants, and that the perception of threat depends, to a certain degree, on the place of residence. The surveys also highlighted, among the other measures, solidarity and the importance of insurance against floods.

Assessing public perception of flood risk and flood control measure in urban areas

sbe.hw.ac.uk

Questions regarding public acceptance of BMPs as well as public perception of the urban environment and of flood risk are addressed in this paper on the base of survey outcomes of a research project carried out in Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais State, in Brazil. Public perception of these aspects was assessed employing structured questionnaires. Surveys were carried out in two urban catchments where detention basins are employed mainly for flood control purposes: the Santa Lucia and the Vilarinho detention basins. The two areas show significant differences in socio-economic terms as well as in the type of storage structure, allowing a rich discussion about people acceptance of this kind of stormwater alternative in the urban context.

Flood risk perception and implications for flood risk management in the Netherlands

International Journal of River Basin Management, 2004

A society well-aware of risks must not only give attention to the prevention of flood risks but must also consider disaster management, i.e. minimising casualties and flood damages, and enhancing recovery. The Netherlands has a solid network of levees along the rivers that protect the many low-lying polders from flooding. But nature is unpredictable, extreme events may happen, and absolute protection against flooding cannot be offered. It is common practice to perform technical and economic analyses to determine the feasibility of flood protection plans. And usually also institutional and administrative aspects are addressed. But how the people that live in the polders feel about flood risk and protection plans seldom gets due attention. This paper primarily looks into the attitude of the people. How do people live with (flood) risks and how do they feel about that? What can be learned from that for communication on flood risks and flood risk management? Finally, we give some recommendations about what elements to consider when developing a flood risk management strategy.

The role of risk perception in making flood risk management more effective

Natural Hazards and Earth System Science, 2013

Over the last few decades, Europe has suffered from a number of severe flood events and, as a result, there has been a growing interest in probing alternative approaches to managing flood risk via prevention measures. A literature review reveals that, although in the last decades risk evaluation has been recognized as key element of risk management, and risk assessment methodologies (including risk analysis and evaluation) have been improved by including social, economic, cultural, historical and political conditions, the theoretical schemes are not yet applied in practice. One main reason for this shortcoming is that risk perception literature is mainly of universal and theoretical nature and cannot provide the necessary details to implement a comprehensive risk evaluation. This paper therefore aims to explore a procedure that allows the inclusion of stakeholders' perceptions of prevention measures in risk assessment. It proposes to adopt methods of risk communication (both one-way and two-way communication) in risk assessment with the final aim of making flood risk management more effective. The proposed procedure not only focuses on the effect of discursive risk communication on risk perception, and on achieving a shared assessment of the prevention alternatives, but also considers the effects of the communication process on perceived uncertainties, accepted risk levels, and trust in the managing institutions.

A participatory and integrated flood risk management experience: Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Floods are one of the most destructive disasters that occur in the city of Belo Horizonte, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. Between the years of 1991 and 2010, these processes caused dozens of deaths, affecting nearly 300,000 people. In order to mitigate those losses, the Belo Horizonte city government adopted a systemic risk management approach. In this sense, structural and non-structural measures were implemented, with a strong focus in community involvement, which helps to improve the local understanding of flood risk. These measures are internationally recognized and, due to its efficiency and applicability, should serve as an example. Therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the participatory and integrated flood risk management strategy and the community mobilization initiatives conducted by the Belo Horizonte municipality. For this purpose, technical visits were performed at different departments of the city. One of the most relevant preventive acti...